Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories. Their stories are about the journey of transforming from ordinary to extraordinary each and every day.

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with elite runners Amy Hastings and Bobby Curtis. Both are Brooks Sports-sponsored athletes who are running the Chicago Marathon this weekend. As I prepare to run the race on Sunday as well, talking to Amy and Bobby was just what I needed to get that extra inspiration. I know their insights and advice will inspire you as you train and race, too.

Marathon and Running Insights from Amy Hastings

About Amy (@hastyhastings): Amy Hastings is an accomplished long distance runner and Olympic athlete. Amy enters the Chicago Marathon after a hot series of road races, including finishing second at the U.S. 20K Championships and winning the U.S. Road 10K this summer. She competed in the 2012 London Olympics in the 10,000-meter run after winning the event at the Olympic Trials.

Amy’s favorite running mantra: “I breathe in strength. I breathe out weakness.”

Amy’s advice for pushing through the toughest part of races: Go back to your training. Remember how you pushed through tough workouts and tempo runs during training and channel that during your race.

Amy’s goal for the 2014 Chicago Marathon: Run faster than 2:26 by running the first half of the race around 5:35/mile pace and then drop down to around 5:30/mile pace during the second half if she is feeling good.

Why Amy chose the Chicago Marathon: Because it’s fast!

Amy’s weekly mileage: Around 110 miles per week. Amy runs a lot of tempo runs and intervals, along with a long run every 10 days. One of the workouts Amy feels has really built her confidence this season is 2-mile repeats at an intimidating pace. She feels that conquering these workouts will positively translate over to race day.

Amy’s favorite running shoe: Brooks Glycerin and Brooks Transcend (with as much as she runs, she gets new shoes every 6 weeks)

Amy’s go-to pre-race dinner: Steak or chicken with rice, potatoes and salad

Amy’s go-to pre-race breakfast: Dinner food (like what she eats above), including protein like hard-boiled eggs

Amy’s race day fuel: Blueberry pomegranate GU

Amy’s favorite song to run to right now: All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor

Amy’s favorite way to relax the day before the race: Watch trashy reality TV shows to take her mind off the race. She admits to having once watched 4 straight hours of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress.

Amy’s biggest advice for running and life: Keep in mind that there are good miles and bad miles in every marathon. You don’t know in which order they will come or when they will happen, but they will happen. During the bad miles, just remember there are good miles ahead. The same holds true in life.

Marathon and Running Insights from Bobby Curtis

About Bobby (@bobbbycurts): Bobby Curtis competed and studied at Villanova University where he was a 2008 NCAA 5K Champion before turning pro. Curtis made his debut in the marathon distance in 2011 at the New York City Marathon, finishing 14th overall. He has competed in the Olympic trials at the 10K distance. Currently, Curtis is a member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. Since joining Brooks Sports, Curtis has placed second in the US 15K Championships at the Gate River Run and 4th in the US 10K championships at the Peachtree Road Race.

Bobby’s goal for the 2014 Chicago Marathon: Run 2:10.

Why Bobby chose the Chicago Marathon: Because it’s fast!

Bobby’s weekly mileage: Bobby runs an average of about 130 miles per week. The workout he feels best prepared him for Chicago is 16-mile runs at goal pace. During marathon week, his taper will include “just” 90 miles of running.

Bobby’s favorite running shoe: Brooks Running Launch, Glycerin and T7 Racer

Bobby’s go-to pre-race dinner: Protein such as chicken, rice and potatoes; the night before a race he might also add a protein shake,

Bobby’s go-to pre-race breakfast: Similar to Amy, he likes hard-boiled eggs. He eats about 3.5 hours before the race start,

Bobby’s race day fuel: Strawberry banana GU mixed with water and caffeine from crushed caffeine pills since this flavor doesn’t have caffeine in it

Bobby’s favorite song to run to right now: Climbers’ Equal Responsibility

Bobby’s favorite way to relax the day before the race: Sit in his hotel room and watch TV to keep himself slightly distracted

Bobby’s biggest advice for running: Train al dente, meaning don’t overcook yourself in training. He also reminds us to have fun. You have to put in a lot of work but it also needs to be fun.

Did anything surprise you about Amy and Bobby’s answers? What resonated most with what they had to share? Be sure to cheer them on in Chicago this weekend!